A member asked:
I dislocated my elbow last saturday and now my hand is getting really swollen, with a bluish tinge. i can feel my fingers, but it's difficult to bend my wrist up because my hand is so fat. it's 1:30am in the morning. how serious is this? should i go to th
1 doctor answer • 5 doctors weighed in
Dr. Monica Woodanswered
Hand Surgery 30 years experience
The : The most important concern is circulation. An elbow dislocation disrupts a lot of ligaments around the elbow. However, there are major blood vessels that cross the elbow, too, which can be pinched, bruised, or partially torn (called an "intimal tear" for the inner lining of the vessel), causing decreased blood flow to the hand. There are a lot of criss-crossing vessels (collateral circulation) to supplement bloodflow, so major injuries may not be obvious.
While some swelling and bruising are expected after an injury like this, your hand should have normal feeling and be warm like the other hand. If you check your pulses at each wrist, they should feel about the same. The swelling should go down with elevation.
I assume you mean it has been a week since your injury. While a vascular injury is less likely to show up at this point, clots can still happen.
If you have any signs of poor circulation, go to the nearest emergency room! otherwise, call your physician to be seen today.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
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A member asked:
0 answers: i dislocated my elbow last sat & now my hand is getting really swollen, with a bluish tinge. Is this normal? I can feel my fingers, but it's difficult to bend my wrist up because my hand is so fat. It's 1:30am in the morning. How serious is th
2 doctor answers • 4 doctors weighed in
Dr. Heidi Fowleranswered
Psychiatry 27 years experience
Hello, : Hello, i don't know if you had your elbow treated or not. I would be concerned that there may be some vascular issue which is preventing fluids from draining from your hand. I do recommend that this be evaluated.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Last updated Oct 3, 2016
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